This blog has nothing to do with gorillas (though I love 'em)...fellow bloggers have inspired me to share vintage images of Disneyland from my personal collection. But don't be surprised if you see something from a World's Fair, Knott's Berry Farm, or someplace else that is cool!

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

After seeing a fun bunch of night photos of the Magic Kingdom from only a month after the park opened, I am segueing into the daytime photos. There are some nice ones!

We'll start at Main Street Station, as seen from Town Square. It looks magnificent! Talk about ornate. And yet you can see the family resemblance to the station at Disneyland. I love that wrought-iron and glass covering that truly appears to be from another era.

Notice the little family to the right (by the trash can), all bundled up against the November chill!

This Main Street Jitney is pretty cool... I like the fact that these are unique to the Magic Kingdom... Disneyland never had them. As usual, Bob Gurr did a great job making these look suitably antique. Check out that fancy "bus stop"... it looks like the Jitney driver is asking whether those folks want a ride.

I assume that Sleeping Beauty Castle would be to our left, since we seem to be on the East side the the Plaza.

Love the Main Street Station of the Walt Disney World Railroad. Beautiful! I remember back in the late 70's going through that portal underneath for a sandwich at the Station Break. It was some pre-wrapped ham and cheese sandwich that was really dry and tasteless. Always enjoy 1970's Disney World visits! Thanks, Major.

TokyoMagic!, "Mr. X" (who took these photos) always says that they don't run the vehicles at the Magic Kingdom anymore. However, I've been told that that's not necessarily true, and that they only run some in the morning before it gets too crowded. The truth is out there.

K. Martinez, sure, that sandwich was dry and tasteless, but it was magical, and that's all that's important.

I love the MK's MS Station, but that covered structure on the back - ornate and beautiful that it is - has looked odd to me for the past 20 years or so. It's obviously inspired by a large-station, stub-end train shed, designed to allow passengers to board and change trains without having to go out in the weather, but it's on the wrong side of the station, 90° off for the WDWRR's trackage, and far too short.

In fact, if you think of Main Street, U.S.A. as a small town, the whole station is backwards. The clock tower should be facing the town, not the tracks. Compare the station's orientation in the MK with that of its inspiration, the 1871-1899 Delaware & Hudson station in Saratoga Springs, NY: http://www.adirondackbranch.net/Images/sSas2.jpg

But...this station doesn't serve a small town - it serves as the grand entrance to an immersive theme park, and its orientation is perfect for that function. The vestigial train shed is a beautiful shade and rain cover for guests in the often hot, often wet Florida weather. Almost no-one will notice anything amiss. I envy them.

The Main Street vehicles have been seen lately. During my last visit (October '15), the Omnibus, the Jitney, the Fire Engine, and the Paddy Wagon were all out, along with the lone horse drawn street car. During that visit, the vehicles would be out first thing in the morning, disappear for a portion of the day, then I actually saw a few later in the afternoon. It's usually a heavy rotation of Move It, Shake It Street Party, and Castle Shows that prevent the vehicles from running during a better portion of the day.

....and if you look very closely, the second photo features a "Topless" Tea Party at the very far end of the avenue (at the very edge of the left side of the photo). This was pre-canopy and the cups can just barely be seen in the distance.

That's what those light poles are used for - the Mad Tea Party-! It was driving me nuts. I kept forgetting this shot was taken (as you say) during its "Topless Period®". Thanks SO much for sharing this info.